Jackson Heights Resident Longs for His Simple Life in the Countryside
By Emma Grace Moon and Devin Dempsey
Makhan Singh, age 40, sits at his desk in his shop, Bollywood Music, in Jackson Heights reminiscing about his previous life in India. In 2003, Singh came to Jackson Heights from a town in India called Ganjam to open the store, which sells both CDs and DVDs.
“I like to put on my favorite music whenever I have friends over. Whenever I cook, I like to put on music too. It is a necessity,” he says.
The store is named Bollywood Music based on the genre it carries. Although Singh has a deep passion for music, he is eager to go back to his hometown.
“Here, you work simply to pay rent,” Singh shares. “There are no breaks. If you live here and you don’t work, you don’t eat.”
Singh’s shop is virtually invisible from the sidewalk above. It sits on the corner of 37th ave and 74th street and despite its outer appearance, the inside is filled to the brim of Indian CDs and DVDs. The store holds various Indian genres like Indian dance music and Classical music. The merchandise is crowded due to the little space that they have and feels hot and stuffy given that it is situated underground.
Although the space is small, Singh complains about the expensive rent he has to pay.
“Living here, rent is very high, more than any other place in the world,” he says.
Due to these costs, he can only afford to have one employee work at his shop. They work 5 days a week from 10am to midnight.
Singh also draws attention to his discomfort in expressing his culture in a place as vast as the U.S.
“Here, people expect me to wear a turban and have a long beard,” says Singh, “Back home people have more choices.” These cultural stereotypes bother Singh and is one reason he wants to move back to India.
Ganjam is a town in the district of Odisha with roots in farming and agriculture as well as values of trust. It has a population of about 11,000 and 108 temples.
“In Jackson Heights, you have to lock your house or store whenever you go out. Back home in Ganjam, you can leave the door wide open. Also, the food lasts longer back home. You can make a meal last a week, and here it is so expensive. Food goes very quick for my family here,” Singh says.
In terms of his choice to move to America, Singh seemed unable to voice a single reason. Before answering, he stared off in the distance for awhile until he whispered, “There were lots of reasons.”
Singh has a wife and two children. College tuition plays a role in his day-to-day stress, he tells us. He want his kids, who are three and five years old, to get a good education and go to a good college. He worries how he will pay for it.
“College is very expensive here in America. In my country, everything is free. There are just little fees for college. I am working everyday to provide for my family and make sure they have a good life here. I rarely have family time as work has become an unfortunate priority.”
Music is a big part in Singh’s life. He is a registered DJ and has a certification hanging on the wall in his store to prove it. EDM or Electronic Dance Music is becoming very popular in America, so this accomplishment could rack in extra money for Singh’s family. In American culture, the entertainment business is arguably the most influential, especially among adolescents. The popularity of the entertainment business can be used to Singh’s advantage as it allows his shop to thrive.
“I find that this is the best place to own my store,” says Singh, “everybody here loves music.”
There are so many different types of music and many ways to incorporate them into your everyday life.
Singh hopes to move back to Ganjam, India in five to ten years.
“I need to keep saving more money and work a little longer.”
